Chapter 16: They Worry About the Wang Family, and They Fear Me

He had long desired for Zhang Shen to take on the role of an instructor, but various circumstances prevented him from turning this wish into action. Now that Zhang Shen had brought up the idea himself, he certainly wouldn’t obstruct him.

“As the future cornerstone and pillar of our family, you must have followers who respect and support you,” Zhang Tianlong had been pondering over this for some time. Every family member who reached the Innate Stage, or even those in the late layers of the Acquired Stage, had their own loyal confidants. The only exception was Zhang Shen, who had risen too rapidly.

Simultaneously, Zhang Tianlong had another plan in mind.

The potential his grandson displayed far exceeded his expectations. Zhang Tianlong had a feeling that Zhang Shen might surpass the Innate Stage. If Zhang Shen indeed reached the unparalleled True Core stage, something unprecedented in their family, then Zhang Tianlong wanted to start fostering deeper relationships between Zhang Shen and the other family members now.

‘A True Core Stage guarantees a lifespan of at least five hundred years. Once all their kin are gone, would a True Core Stage individual still care about a family devoid of familiar faces?’ Zhang Tianlong thought.

Unaware of Zhang Tianlong’s far-sighted scheme, Zhang Shen was focused on preparing his teachings.

‘What should I impart to them?’

Despite the difference in martial skills and techniques each person practiced, certain fundamental principles remained universal. The same held true for the barriers encountered during cultivation.

Ultimately, Zhang Shen decided to teach the foundational principles, adapting his teachings to suit each individual’s aptitude. To better achieve this, he sought advice from the seniors who had previously undertaken this task.

He still had time for preparation. The current year’s intensive training class hadn’t concluded yet. He had two months left before the start of the next year’s class after the New Year.

“Two months, huh?”

As he prepared, Zhang Shen also continued his cultivation. During this period, he didn’t intend to take any additional family tasks.

“It’s high time I practiced a technique to conceal my aura,” Zhang Shen mused. If he continued to progress at this breakneck pace, the family might not withstand the repercussions of his rapid growth.

The growth of the Wang family could send ripples of unease through Hongyuan City. Similarly, Zhang Shen’s meteoric rise was likely to trigger panic among neighboring cities. His extraordinary cultivation speed was becoming harder to conceal, his power burgeoning with each passing day.

“If I break through to the Innate Stage in the next three or four years, other families will undoubtedly resort to drastic measures to take me down, perhaps even launch joint attacks. In the absence of a common enemy, siblings can become roadblocks on one’s path, particularly those who advance rapidly. Were I in their shoes, I would neutralize the threat too. After all, such a person would monopolize too many opportunities, closing off the paths of many.”

Much like Zhang Yu, who had once feared that Zhang Shen’s growth would rob him of his shot at reaching the Innate Stage, powers from other cities might worry about extermination and annexation.

“Thanks to the True Core inheritance, I don’t need to rely on the family’s resources for ascending to the Innate Stage, defusing the conflict with my eldest uncle. However, resolving tensions with other cities won’t be as straightforward.”

Zhang Shen was acutely aware that when he reached a certain height, he would need to expand his family’s influence, incorporate the surrounding cities into Hongyuan City’s sphere, and claim them as his hunting grounds.

“Having anticipated this crisis, I must become an indomitable force before they can mobilize.”

Concealing his cultivation could buy Zhang Shen some time.

“I must first enhance my physical body to the 7th Layer of the Innate Stage. This will not only secure my family’s safety but also provide a chance to reinforce our strength.”

The longer Zhang Shen managed to keep his power hidden, the better it was for him. Retrieving an Innate mid-grade Cultivation Concealment Technique from his storage bag, he could effectively mask his cultivation level.

“This technique, a relic of the True Core, should suffice to fool those dwelling on the edges of the Endless Wilderness.”

Zhang Shen accessed his panel, revealing his progress in various techniques.

Technique Progress: Bright Moon Technique 7th Layer (9% Progress), Tenfold Power Strike (Complete), Cold Moon Blade Technique (91% Progress), Cloud-Drifting Step  (97% Progress)

“I mastered the Tenfold Power Strike. The time once allocated to it can now be devoted to practicing the Cultivation Concealment Technique. I also almost mastered The Cloud-Drifting Step, then I can then begin a new movement technique.”

The Cloud-Drifting Step had become less effective as Zhang Shen’s cultivation deepened. Fortunately, Zhang Shen had found the Wind and Cloud Step in those dozen techniques. There was also a top-grade Innate technique, the Great Sun Blade Technique.

“These will be my future training focus.”

For now, Zhang Shen had no plans to further enhance his hand-to-hand combat skills. He already had his hands full.

After Zhang Shen mastered his martial techniques, he decided to practice the martial skills that come with the Mountain of a Thousand Layers. Those martial skills, even when considered separately, were of top grade and they matched perfectly with the cultivation technique itself.

“So, it seems I’ll be swamped, both now and for quite a while into the future,” Zhang Shen reflected with a sigh. “Well, let’s start training.”

Brewing a cup of Pure Lotus Leaf tea to clear his mind, he took out a few well-preserved pills from his inherited stockpile.

“An Acquired superior-grade pill, the Thick Earth Pill, one of the best pills for enhancing cultivation speed.”

After consuming all of the calming lotus leaf tea, his mind became serene. Zhang Shen then swallowed the Thick Earth Pill, and a potent medicinal strength diffused within his body.

He circulated the Bright Moon Technique, which he had cultivated to the Acquired 7th Layer, to refine the medicinal strength.

Each layer of the technique corresponded to one cultivation realm level. Transitioning directly to the Mountain of a Thousand Layers cultivation technique could work, but Zhang Shen had grander ambitions. Therefore, he intended to first cultivate his family’s Bright Moon Technique to perfection.

“The family’s Bright Moon Technique originally had only three or four layers, which have been deduced and improved upon by generations of the family’s skilled individuals. It has also been the family’s support since our arrival here, over a hundred years ago.”

Zhang Shen had never considered abandoning such a technique imbued with such a profound legacy.

Time flew by, and in what felt like a blink, two months had passed. It was still the harsh depths of winter. Zhang Shen, dressed lightly, sat cross-legged in a snow-covered courtyard. The falling snow blanketed him, and his breath seemed to merge with the snowflakes. If one didn’t know there was someone sitting there, one might assume it was a snowman.

After a while, Zhang Shen rose, the snow sliding off his figure naturally.

His breath, as pure as snow, returned to normal, just like any ordinary person. Then his aura surged, rising above the Acquired Stage 7th Layer.

“As a martial artist’s cultivation improves, their internal energy transforms accordingly. On a normal day, this transformation is harmless, but once in action, the surging internal energy can reveal one’s cultivation level. However, by practicing the Cultivation Concealment Technique, the internal energy seems to gain a protective layer. It would be difficult for an average martial artist to penetrate this disguise.”

Zhang Shen opened his system panel:

The Strongest Physical Body System

Host: Zhang Shen

Physical Level: Innate Stage 1st Layer 

Progress: 35%

Cultivation Level: Acquired Stage 8th Layer 

Progress: 27%

Technique Progress: Bright Moon Technique 8th Layer (9% Progress), Cold Moon Blade Technique(94% Progress), Cloud-Drifting Step (99% Progress), Innate mid-grade Cultivation Concealment Technique (33%)

Completed Techniques (Expandable)

Evaluation: At the Innate 1st Layer, he’s nothing more than a small, weak chick. Despite his struggles to progress, he remains vulnerable and can be easily toppled, much like an ant.